CAREER: Microbes and phosphorus: integrating engineering principles, ecology, and student learning to study eutrophication of freshwater lakes

McMahon，凯瑟琳D. 威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校提案编号：0644949职业：微生物和磷：整合工程原理，生态学和学生学习研究淡水湖泊的富营养化。人们普遍认为，微生物（主要是藻类和细菌）通过它们在水体和沉积物中的作用来控制湖泊中的磷循环。然而，很少有人知道的生化机制参与微生物的P-循环，或有关的贡献不同的分类群体的具体P转换。最近对富营养化湖泊中淡水细菌群落动态的研究表明，随着时间的推移，群落组成会发生显着变化，这种变化与营养物质供应的变化有关。更好地了解所涉及的基本机制，以及这些机制如何随社区组成而变化，最终将提高预测湖泊管理做法对水质影响的能力。 PI将与华盛顿大学湖沼中心和中国科学院南京地理与湖沼研究所的科学家建立密切联系。反过来，我将利用正在进行的努力，建立湖泊无线传感器网络，并促进国际合作，这两个将提供巨大的机会，为学生的培训。湖泊水质是一个吸引威斯康星州绝大多数居民的问题。 威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校及其优秀的现有外展基础设施将帮助我开发和评估旨在促进湖泊水质和环境工程和科学学科的认识，针对多个年龄组的外展材料。NSF资助的研究，教学和学习一体化中心的工作人员将与我和我的研究生一起工作，通过为期一周的探究式教学单元吸引中学生，旨在向他们介绍环境工程和科学。PI还将有一个独特的机会，通过大学预科学习机会计划，接触少数民族和弱势高中学生。PI已经表现出对教学研究的坚定承诺，“在本科生环境工程入门课程中，并将继续参与这一过程，以促进有效的教学和学习，同时努力激励下一代环境工程师。

McMahon, Katherine D. University of Wisconsin-MadisonProposal Number: 0644949CAREER: Microbes and phosphorus: integrating engineering principles, ecology, and student learning to study eutrophication of freshwater lakesIntellectual Merit. It is generally accepted that microbes (primarily algae and bacteria) control P-cycling in lakes, through their actions in both the water column and sediments. However, very little is known about the biochemical mechanisms involved in microbial P-cycling, or about the contribution of different taxonomic groups to specific P transformations. Recent studies of freshwater bacterial community dynamics in eutrophic lakes suggest that community composition varies significantly over time, and that this variation is correlated with changes in nutrient availability. A better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms involved, and how these may vary with community composition, will ultimately lead to an improved ability to predict the effects of lake management practices on water quality. The PI will be building strong connections to scientists at the UW Center for Limnology and at Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. In turn, I will leverage ongoing efforts to build wireless sensor networks for lakes, and to foster international collaborations, both of which will provide tremendous opportunities for student training.Broader Impacts. Lake water quality is a problem that appeals to a vast majority of Wisconsin residents. UW-Madison and its outstanding existing outreach infrastructure will help me to develop and assess outreach materials designed to promote an awareness of lake water quality and the Environmental Engineering and Science discipline, targeting multiple age groups. Staff in the NSF-Funded Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning will work with me and my graduate students to engage middle school students through a one-week inquiry-based instructional unit designed to introduce them to Environmental Engineering and Science. The PI will also have a unique opportunity to reach minority and disadvantaged high school students, through the Pre-College Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence. The PI has already demonstrated a strong commitment to teaching as research," in introductory Environmental Engineering course for undergraduates, and will continue to engage in this process in order to promote effective teaching and learning while striving to inspire the next generation of Environmental Engineers.